Sparrow services consultation
From January 2025, we're consulting customers on proposed changes to your shared ownership services. We’re consulting with you as we’d like to start providing your shared owner services ourselves, taking over from Sage Homes. Read on to find out more.
What we'd like to change?
Sparrow Shared Ownership (Sparrow) is a purpose-driven shared ownership housing provider with a commitment to excellent customer service. We purchased Sage Housing Limited in August 2024, which owns the share of your home you don’t own.
Why we're suggesting this change?
As you know, Sage Homes has continued to look after your services since Sparrow was established. But we know that a home is more than bricks and mortar – it’s the foundation of the life you want to live. With that in mind, we’d like to take over providing those services ourselves.
We’d like to do this because we strive to do the right thing. We believe you’d benefit from having services provided directly by Sparrow, a Registered Provider that only has shared ownership customers. We can dedicate ourselves to your best interests as shared owners.
What happens next?
The Sparrow Board (pictured) will make a decision on whether to bring the service in-house once they have listened to and carefully considered customers’ views. We’ll write to customers again, to let them know their decision.
There will only be a change to your services if the Board decide to go ahead, and until then your services will continue to be provided by Sage Homes.
The Sparrow services consultation – key dates
| 06 January 2025 | Consultation opens with all Sparrow customers invited to respond to proposed changes to service provision |
| 17 February 2025 | Consultation closes, so please ensure you have responded by this date if you wish to do so |
| 24 February 2025 | Sparrow Board meets to consider customer feedback and make decisions on any changes |
| Early March 2025 | Sparrow Board to write to all customers detailing the outcome of consultation along with any proposed changes. |
Q&As: Change in the provision of your services
Questions about this consultation
We’d like to do this because we strive to do the right thing. We believe you’d benefit from having services provided directly by Sparrow, a Registered Provider that has only shared ownership customers and their best interests at heart.
We believe in the value of hearing from our customers and want you to share in making decisions about your home. We’re listening to you and want you to comment on this proposed change in how services are provided. While, as a Registered Provider, regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing, consultation is required by regulation, we see this as a real opportunity to understand your thoughts and ideas, and use them to influence how we support you.
No, you don’t need to do anything but please share your views with us during this consultation; we’ll listen to, and carefully consider your thoughts, before making a decision.
You can share your views by:
- Emailing us at: sparrowsharedownership@sagehomes.co.uk (using the subject line: ‘Consultation feedback: services for my home’)
- Calling our team on: 0208 168 0500
- Or writing to us at: Sparrow Shared Ownership, 5th Floor, Orion House, 5 Upper St Martin’s Lane, London WC2H 9EA
This consultation is running for six weeks to give you the best opportunity to share your views and feedback. You have until midnight on Monday 17 February to let us know your thoughts.
We’ll listen and answer any questions that you have. We’ll take all your comments, opinions and feedback to our Board for consideration when deciding whether to make this change or not. Any actions from this consultation will be considered carefully and thoughtfully in accordance with our policies, procedures and values.
Sparrow Shared Ownership is a new dedicated shared ownership Registered Provider, supporting people on the journey to owning their own home. We bought Sage Housing Limited, who own the part of your home that you rent, in August 2024.
Our mission is to provide high quality homes and excellent customer service to our customers. We’ll provide you with a great home that acts as a foundation for living, and helps you get to where you want to in life.
You can find out more on our website: www.sparrowsharedownership.co.uk
Questions about these proposed changes
No, your lease agreement is a legal document and can’t be changed without your agreement.
Yes, you will have exactly the same rights and legal protection as before. This proposed change to the provision of Shared Ownership services won’t affect your rights, which are explained in your lease agreement.
The rent levels for the part of your home you don’t own are set in your lease and defined by the Regulator of Social Housing. The terms of your lease will not change, and there will be no change to your rent as a result of these proposed changes.
However, the annual rent review process will proceed as usual whether this proposal goes ahead or not. You can expect to receive information regarding your annual rent review at the end of February.
No, the proposed change won’t alter any existing debt. If you’re struggling to pay, we can work with you to find a way for you to clear existing arrears and make future payments more easily. Sage Homes’ Financial Wellbeing team is trained to help customers manage their finances so we would urge you to get in touch at fws@sagehomes.co.uk if you’re struggling financially. They will be able to help ensure you’re on the right path.
There’ll be no change to who you pay. Your landlord remains the same Registered Provider.
If, after listening to and considering your views, we decide to go ahead with the changes outlined in this consultation, we’ll get in touch to let you know how the transition will work. We would aim for the change to be quick and simple.
To contact us about this consultation please email sparrowsharedownership@sagehomes.co.uk
Sage Homes will continue to provide your home’s services until a decision about the proposal has been made by Sparrow’s Board. We’ll write to you again when the Board has reviewed your feedback and to let you know the outcome.